Improvement in oyster-dredges



THOMAS W. LAN DON.

lmpr ovement in Oyster-Dred'g'es. No, 125,964, PateniedAprHZSflSTQ) Jignl. v V JigcZ.

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THOMAS W. LANDON, OF FAIRMOUNT, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN OVSTER-DREDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,964, dated April 23, 1872.

Specification describing a new and useful Improvement in Oyster-Dredge, invented by THOMAS W. LANDON, of Fairmount, in the county of Somerset and State of Maryland.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved dredge. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section of the same taken through the line as m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the frame-work of the same, the bag or net being removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish ,an improved oyster-dredge, simple in construction, more effective in operation, and more convenient in use than the ordinary dredge, being so constructed as to take hold of the oysters with more facility, and to pass over the roller more easily; and it consists in the construction and combination of various parts of the dredge, as hereinafter more fully described.

A is the frame-work of the dredge, about the construction of which there is nothing new. B is the bag or net, which is made of wire, in the ordinary manner. 'The bag or net B is attached to the cross-bar and bows or bends of the frame A, and to the rear edge of the toothplate 0. The ends of the tooth-plate O are pivoted to the frame A at the lower end of its bows, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. D is the trip-bar, which extends along the lower side of. the rear part of the tooth-bar O, and its ends are bent inward, and are attached to said tooth bar.

By this construction, when the dredge is thrown overboard the resistance encountered by the bar D will trip the tooth-bar and cause the teeth to project into working position. As the dredge is raised the weight of the oysters in the bag or net B will turn the tooth-bar into line with the frame, so that it will readily and easily pass over the roller.

To the rear edge of the tooth-bar O are pivoted the rear ends of the bars E, which project forward and incline inward, and the forward parts of which are welded or firmly connected together. The forward part of the bars E is slotted longitudinally, to receive a guide-pin or bolt, F, attached to the forward part of the frame A. In the slotted forward part of the bars E are formed a number of transverse holes to receive the pin G, so that by adjusting the pin G the play of the bars E, and consequently the amount of projection of the teeth, may be limited, as desired; and so that by adjusting said pin F the bars E may be secured immovably, thus converting the dredge into a scraper. v

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent As an improved article of manufacture, an oyster-dredge, formed of frame-work A, wirenet B, tooth-plate G, pivoted to ends of said frame, and trip-bar D, arranged on lower side of the rear of said tooth-plate and bent at the ends to form a connection therewith, all combined and arranged as described.

THOMAS W. LANDON.

Witnesses:

WM. E. FORD, W. H. PARKS. 

